Diabetes Project
Diabetes Foot Care:
Foot care is a huge factor with having diabetes. If you have diabetes you should take extreme care of your feet. You should self inspect your feet at least once daily and if you by chance get an injury to a foot seek medical care early on. Also, make sure that your health care provider checks your feet at least once a year but more often if you have foot problems. Call your health care provider if you have calluses, corns, or ingrown toenails for they can trim them for you if you cannot do so safely. Always trim your toenails straight across and file the edges with a nail file. Remember to also tell your doctor if you have abnormal changes in your feet such as numbness or pain, and changes in color, shape. When examining your bare feet look for red spots, cuts, swelling, and blisters. You should maintain a good schedule and wash your feet every day, dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Patients suffering with diabetes should never walk barefoot, they should wear comfortable shoes that fit well and serve as a good protective barrier for the feet. It is also very important to keep your feet elevated when sitting so they maintain good blood flow; another activity to keep blood flowing to the feet is wiggling the toes and moving the ankles up and down for 5 minutes two or three times daily. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications/foot-care.html Diabetes Skin Care:
Most skin disorders caused by diabetes can be easily prevented or treated if caught early. Keep skin dry and clean at all times, use talcum powder in areas where skin touches skin. Avoid taking hot baths or showers because this can potentially dry the skin out. If your skin is already dry moisturizing body wash may help, after taking a shower use a standard skin lotion but don’t put lotion between the toes because the extra moisture there is encouraging fungus to grow. Use mild shampoos and avoid feminine hygiene sprays. Treat cuts on
Foot care is a huge factor with having diabetes. If you have diabetes you should take extreme care of your feet. You should self inspect your feet at least once daily and if you by chance get an injury to a foot seek medical care early on. Also, make sure that your health care provider checks your feet at least once a year but more often if you have foot problems. Call your health care provider if you have calluses, corns, or ingrown toenails for they can trim them for you if you cannot do so safely. Always trim your toenails straight across and file the edges with a nail file. Remember to also tell your doctor if you have abnormal changes in your feet such as numbness or pain, and changes in color, shape. When examining your bare feet look for red spots, cuts, swelling, and blisters. You should maintain a good schedule and wash your feet every day, dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Patients suffering with diabetes should never walk barefoot, they should wear comfortable shoes that fit well and serve as a good protective barrier for the feet. It is also very important to keep your feet elevated when sitting so they maintain good blood flow; another activity to keep blood flowing to the feet is wiggling the toes and moving the ankles up and down for 5 minutes two or three times daily. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications/foot-care.html Diabetes Skin Care:
Most skin disorders caused by diabetes can be easily prevented or treated if caught early. Keep skin dry and clean at all times, use talcum powder in areas where skin touches skin. Avoid taking hot baths or showers because this can potentially dry the skin out. If your skin is already dry moisturizing body wash may help, after taking a shower use a standard skin lotion but don’t put lotion between the toes because the extra moisture there is encouraging fungus to grow. Use mild shampoos and avoid feminine hygiene sprays. Treat cuts on